Press for packing bran



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 1.

I C. H. BROWNP..

PRESS POR PACKING BRAN.

No. 368,127. Patented Aug. 9,1887.

l P M i l l l N. PETERS. Phnm-Lwnngmyhur, wnhington. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. H. BROWNE.

PRESS FOR PACKING BEAN.

10.368.121 Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

n PETERS. Pmw-umagmprw. wmv-gwn. D. a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. BROWNE, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

PRESS FOR PACKING BRAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,127, dated August9, 1887, Application tiled December 17, 1886. Serial No. 221.525. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, OHARLEs H. BRowNE, of Jackson, in the county ofJackson and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Presses for Packing Bran, &o., `of which the following is aspecilication.

My invention relates to a press which is provided with apressing-caseinto which the bran or other material is forced from a receivingcase bya follower which is actuated by a screw.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide simple means forclosing the slots in the receiving-case, in which the arms of thefollower move, and to apply the power to the screw-shafts in such manneras to reduce the torsional strain on the shafts to a minimum.

My invention has the further object to improve the construction ofvarious parts of the press for the purpose of rendering the latterdurable and efficient in operation.

My invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafterfully set fort-h, and

pointed ont in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is aside elevation of my improved press. Fig. 2 is a sectional frontelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the press. Fig. 4Cis a vertical section through the pressing case and connecting parts, onan enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section throughthe "receiving-case. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through thepressing-case. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the truck on which thepressingcase rests. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the step-bearing atthe lower end of one of the actuating-screws. Fig. 9 is a verticalsection at right angles to Fig. S, showing the parts separated. Fig. 10is a vertical section of one of the screw-nuts which are attached to thearms of the follower.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several gures.

A represents the stationary frame of the machine, and B thereceiving-case, arranged vertically at the front end of the frame A.

Crepresents the pressingcase, arranged underneath the receiving-case B.

a represents the horizontal drivingshaft, journaled in bearings whichare secured to the rear portion of the frame A and provided with a tightand loose pulley, around which run a crossed belt, a, and an open belt,a.

ai* represents a bevel-pinion secured to the inner end of thedriving-shaft a.

b represents a vertical shaft jourualed in the main frame A and providedat its upper end with a horizontal bevel-wheel, b', which meshes withthe pinion fr.

b2 is a sprocket or chain wheel secured to the shaft b underneath thegear-wheel b.

c c represent the vertical screw-shafts, ar ranged on opposite sides ofthe receiviugcase B, and provided near their lower ends with horizontalchain or sprocket wheels c c.

cl represents an endless drive-ehain which is driven by the chain-wheelb2, and which passes around the wheels o on the screw-shaft and around aguide-wheel, c3. The latter is journaled in the main frame in front ofthe wheel bz and carries the drive-chain clear of the pressing-case, asrepresented in Fig. 3. The drive-chain and the chainwheels are arrangedbetween the top portion, a", and the lower portion, a5, of the mainframe A, as represented in Fig. l.

d d represent perforated ears,which are secured to the rear side of thereceiving-case B and 'which slide on vertical pins d" d, secured to themainframe. These ears and pins guide the receivingease in its verticalmovements when the receiving-case is raised and lowered by means of thefoot-lever D and rod D. The latter engages under the lower ears, d', asrepresented in Fig. 4. The main portion A is provided in rear of thereceiving-case with an upright extension, a, to which the guide-pins dd3 are secured. The upper end of the receiviug-case is provided withacross-piece, E, having at its ends bearings c, in which the upper endsof the screw-shafts c are jonrnaled loosely, so that the bearings e canbe raised and lowered on the journals of the screw-shaft as thereceiving-case B is raised and lowered.

F represents the feed-spout through which the bran or other material tobe compressed is delivered into the upper end of the receiving-case B.

f represents the horizontal feed-slide, which is arranged in thefeed-spout for opening and closing the same.

f represents a spring which connects one IOO end of the feed-slide witha standard, f2, se-

cured to the cross-piece E, and which tends to hold the feed-slideclosed.

f represents a rod attached to the opposite end of the feed-slide andprovided with a cord, f, which runs over a guidepul1ey,f5, and hangs inconvenient reach of the operator, so that upon pulling on this cord thefeed-slide is moved to open the spout, while upon releasing the cord thefeed-slide is returned to its former position by the spring. The rod f 3is provided in its upper side with a notch, f, in which engages avertical locking-rod,f1, when the slide is opened, thereby locking theslide in an open position. The locking-rodf1 is provided at its upperend with a rearwardlyextending arm,f, which engages in the notch f". Byraising the rod fT the feed-slideis released and closed by the spring.The lockingrod rests on the rod f 3 of the feed-slide by gravity, andthe arm fB drops into the notch f6 when the feed-slide has been openedsufficiently by the cord f* to cause the notch to register with the arm.

G represents the follower by which the material is compressed and whichextends transversely through the receiving-ease B and is provided withinthe latter with bottom plates, g, which are hinged near their outer endsto the follower, so as to open downwardly. The follower G is providedwitha central opening or passage, g', through which extends acrosspiece, g. The latter is connected with the inner ends of the hingedplates q by springs g, which tend to hold these plates closed againstthe under side of the follower, as represented in Figs. 2 and 4.

g represents the detachable follower-board, which is placed between thematerial to be pressed and the hinged plates g.

h represents vertical bars or rods, which are secured to the uppercross-piece E and which project downwardly into the receiving-case B insuch positions that they will strike against the inner ends of thehinged plates g and swing the latter downwardly as the followerapproaches its highest position, thereby opening the passage y throughthe follower and permitting the material to be pressed to flow from thefeed-spout through said passage into the receiviugcase below thefollower.

h represents the horizontal opening formed in the front side of thereceivingcase B near its upper end for the introduction of thefollower-board g.

The follower G is provided with arms i, which project through the sidesof the receiving-ease and carry at their ends screw-nuts i',

.in which the screw-shaftsc work. The receiving-ease B is provided inits sides with vertical slots lc, in which the armsz' of the followermove as the follower is raised and lowered in the receiving-case.

k represents ilexible straps,bands, or covers, which are arranged withinthe receiving-case B opposite the slots k, and which close the latter.These straps are secu red with their lower ends to the inner side of thereceiving-case below the slots 7.1, as represented at k'l in Fig. 4.They pass loosely through vertical openingsl in the follower, and areattached with their upper ends to the upper cross-piece, E, by means ofsprings Z' or other suitable yielding connections, so that the strapswill rest closely against the inner sides of the receiving-case andcover the slots 7c in the same, while the follower is free to ascend anddescend in the receivingcase.

Z2 represents horizontal pins or projections formed on the arms of thefollower and bear ing against the outer sides of the receiving case Bnear the slots k, thereby supporting the edges of the receiving-casealong the slots against the internal pressure, which tends to bulgethese edges outwardly. The' straps k are pressed tightly against theinner side of the receiving-case by the pressure which is exerted uponthe material by the follower, and prevent the material from escapingthrough said slots.

m represents bearings in which the lower portions of the screwshaftscare journaled, and which are secured to the front ends of the upperportion, a, of the main frame. The bearings m are arranged above thechainwheels c', which are secured to the screwshafts.

o1, represents the stepbearings on which the lower ends of thescrew-shafts c rest. Each of these step-bearings is formed on abracket,N, which is secured to the frontside ofthe lower portion, a, of the mainframe, and which is provided with a horizontal top plate, n', having anopening through which the screw-shaft passes.

n2 represents a collar which is secured to the screw-shaft between thestep and the top plate, n', and which is provided on its upper side withan annular groove, a.

or* is a collar arranged between the collar n and the top plate, u', andprovided on its under side with au annular rib, n, which fits into thegroo\'e izf. The collar a surrounds the screw-shaft loosely, and is heldagainst turning by sets'crews a", which permit the collar to be leveledor trammed. In com pressing the material below the follower an and thisstrain is received by the bracket N and the collars a2 audn. The grooveof the lower collar, a2, is preferably kept full of oil to insure theeasy working of the parts.

It will be observed that the power is applied to the screwshai'tsopposite the pressing-case at the ends of the shafts, toward which thefollower is moved in compressing the material, whereby the distancebetween the follower and the point at which thepower is applied becomesless as the pressure and the resistance of the compressed materialincrease. By this means the length of the screw-shafts which is exposedto torsional strain becomes gradually upward strain is applied to eachscrew-shaft, 4

ICOv

less as the pressure increases, thereby preventing excessive torsionalstrains,wh ich will cause the screw-shafts to bend or break, and whichoccur in presses in which the follower moves away from the point atwhichthe power is applied in compressing the material.

rlhe pressing-case C is composed of a cylinder, o, of wiregauze or othersuitable material,'divided at the front, where it is provided withpivoted clampso, by which the upright edges of the cylinder are securedtogether. The upper and lower edges of the wire-cloth cylinder aresecured to bands o2, which are constructed of elastic material, orprovided with hinges,so that theeylinder can be opened and closed atdesire.

P represents a wheeled truck to which the pressingcase C is secured. Thetruck is provided with an upright back, p, to which the rear side of thecylinder o is secured by bolts p', and with a bottom, pi, to which thesides of' the cylinder o are secured` by hooks p3. The latter aresecured to the sides of the cylinder o and extend upwardly beyond theupper edge of the cylinder o, where'they are formed withinwardlyprojecting hooks p. These lastnamed hooks spring inwardly afterthe follower-board has passed lbelow the same and lock thefollower-board to the pressing-case. The receiving-case is provided inits lower edge with notches p5, as represented in Fig. 4,

in which the hooks p play.

q represents inclined rails upon which the truck P runs toward and fromthe press. These rails are supported near their highest point upon across-piece, q,which is secured to the front of the lower portion, a5,of the main frame.

r represents a vertical bolt which bears against the under side of thepressing-case, and which is attached to the rear end of a lever, R,pivoted to the cross-piece g. The outer end of the lever R is attachedto the lower end of the locking-rod f l, by which the feed-slide itsheld in an open position. rllhe locking-rod is provided with alaterally-projecting scalebeam, r', which is so weighted as to balancethe pressing-case when it contains the desired weight of material.

r2 is a foot-lever by which the locking-rod can be raised when desired.

Y S represents a shifting-bar by which the straight belt is shifted.This bar is actuated by a bell-crank, s,which is struck by the followerwhen the operation of pressing is nearly completed, thereby shifting thestraight belt from the tight to the loose pulley and arresting themovement of the follower. S is a similar shifting-bar, by which thecrossed belt is shifted. This bar is actuated by a bellcrank, s', andupright bar si. (Shownin dotted lines in Fig. l.) The upright bar isprovided at its upper end with a projecting arm, s, which is struck bythe follower when the follower has nearly reached its highest position,

thereby shifting the crossed belt from the tight to the loose pulley andarresting` the upward movement of the follower.

Vhen the follower has reached its highest position and its hinged plateshave been opened by the depending rods in the upper portion of thereceiving-case, the feed-slide is opened by pulling on its cord and islocked in an open position by thelocking-rod. The material now flowsfrom the feed-spout through the follower into the pressing-case and thereceiving-case. Then the desired quantity of material has been received,thelocking-rod is raised out of engagement with the feed-slide and thelatter is closed by the spring. The scale-beam maybe so weighted thatthis movement of the lockingrod is effected automatically. The straightbelt is now shifted to the tight pulley and the follower is moveddownwardly by the screw-shafts. \Vhen the operation of pressing iscompleted, the downward motion ol' the follower is automaticallyarrested and the follower-board is locked to the pressing case by thehooks at the top of the latter. The receiving-case is now raised fromthe pressing-case by the foot-lever, and the pressing-case is removedfrom under the receiving-case, opened, and the pressed bale or packageremoved. The follower is now returned to its elevated position, thepressingcase is provided with another sack or lining of suitablemateriahand is replaced underneath the receiving-case, when theoperation of pressing is repeated.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, with the receiving-caseprovided with side openings, of a follower moving with its lateral armsin said side openings, and flexible covers arranged in the receivingcaseopposite said side openings, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the receiving-case provided with side openings,of a follower moving with its lateral arms in said side openings, andflexible covers attached to the receiving-case and passing` throughopenings in the follower, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the receiving and pressing cases and thefollower, of the screwshafts whereby the follower is actuated anddriving-gear applied to the screw-shafts at their ends toward which thefollower moves IOO in compressing the material, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination, with the receiving-case B and the prcssingcase C, ofthe follower G, screw-shafts c c, engaging with the follower, anddriving-wheels c c', secured to the screwshafts near the pressing-caseC, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the receiving-case B and the pressing-case C,of the follower G, screw-shafts c c, engaging with the follower,driving-wheels c c', secured to the screw-shafts near the pressing-case,a driving-wheel, b, a

guide-wheel, c, and an endless drive-chain runnlug around said wheels,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, .with the screw-shaft c, of the supporting-bracketN, provided with a top plate, a, and step n, a collar, n", attached tothe bracket N, and a collar, ai, secured to the screw-shaft c below thecollar a, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the screw-shaft c, of the supporting-bracket N,provided with a step, n, and a top plate, a', having set-screws n, acollar, n4, attached to the bracket and prov ided on its under side withan annular rib, n, and a collar, a2, secured to the screw-shaft andprovided on its upper side with an annular groove, n, substantially asset forth.

8. The combination,with the receiving-case, of a follower, G, having apassage, g', and hinged plates g, whereby said passage can be opened orclosed, substantially as set forth.

9. The combinatiomwith the receiving ease, of a follower, G,havingapassage, g', provided with a cross-piece, g2, plates g, hinged tothe under side of the follower, and springs g, connecting said hingedplates with the cross-piece g, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the receiving'- case having side openings, ofexible covers applied to said openings on the inner side of thereceiving-ease, and a follower, G, provided with openings Z, throughwhich said covers pass loosely, and having projections Z2, which bearagainst the outer sides ofv the receivingcase, substantially as setforth.

11. The colnbination, with the receivingcase, of a follower, G, having apassage, g', plates g, hinged to the follower below said passage, andfixed rods h, whereby the plates r/ are opened as the followerapproaches its highest position, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, with the receivingcase and pressing-case, of thefeed-spout, a feed-slide, f, a spring, f', whereby the feedslide isclosed, and a locking-rod, f7, whereby the feed-slide is locked open,substantially as Set forth.

13. The combination, with the receivingcase and a vertically-movablepressing-case,of the feedspout F, a feed-slide, f, a spring, f', wherebythe feed-slide is closed, anda weighted locking-rod, f7, connected withthe pressing-case, whereby the feed-slide is automatically released,substantially as set forth.

14. The combination, with the receivingcase, the follower, and thedetachable followerboard, of a pressing-case, C, and flexible hooks p4,attached to the upper end of the pressingcase, whereby thefollower-board is locked to the pressing-ease, substantially as setforth.

15. The combination,with thepressing-case, of a receiving-case arrangedabove the pressing-case, a stationary supporting-frame, vertical guidesconnecting the receiving-case with the stationary frame, and afoot-lever and rod, whereby the receiving-case can be raised from thepressing-case, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination, with the main frame provided with vertical pins d'Zd, of the pressing-case C, the receiving-case B, provided with ears d,Z, sliding ou said pins, a foot-lever, l),

and a rod, D', connecting said foot-lever with thereceiving-ease,substautiall y as set forth.

fitness my hand this 26th day of November, 1886.

CHARLES H. BROW'NE.

fitnessesz ELI A. CLEMENT, J. W. BENNETT.

